Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcongwiti’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcongwiti’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and a compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcongwiti’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcongwiti’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during April 2019. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive novelty flower coloration, and a compact-mounded growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded CAL-16202-01, not patented, characterized by its white colored flowers having a light yellow colored center, medium green colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded CAL-16295-01, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during September 2019 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2019 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcongwiti’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Low growth vigor; and     -   4. A compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having white colored flowers. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having lower growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Conga White ‘Balcongite’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcongite’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter corollas than         plants of ‘Balcongite’, and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more branches per plant than         plants of ‘Balcongite’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcongwiti’. The plants were approximately 5-months old. The plants were grown in 3-gallon containers for approximately 10 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were pinched twice prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcongwiti’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcongwiti’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2021 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 5-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 3-gallon containers for approximately 10 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 85° F. (21° C. to 29° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 70° F. (16° C. to 21° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used during propagation stage. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida ‘Balcongwiti’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection coded CAL-16202-01, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection CAL-16295-01, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Low vigor,             compact-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 18.0 cm. Width: Approximately 52.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 7.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 20.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with a mixture of non-glandular and glandular hairs. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stems: 146D.             Color of mature stems: 146D with age becoming woody 199C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning             downward with age. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Length of mature leaf: Approximately 3.2 cm. Width of mature             leaf: Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young and             mature foliage: 137B with midvein of 146C. Color of lower             surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138B with             midvein of 146D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcongwiti’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 180. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 70.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion 8D, tube             portion 154C, venation of 145A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.8 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse to shallowly notched. Length             from tube: Approximately 1.1 cm. Length of free portion:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:             Glandular pubescent, dense along venation. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when first             and fully open: NN155D with 8B at throat opening and             midveins of 144A. Color of lower surface when first and             fully open: NN155D with midveins of 144B.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 8B             with weak venation of 144A. Color of outer surface: 154D             with venation of 145A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute. Length:             Approximately 1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface:             137A. Color of lower surface: 137B with 146D at base.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament             color: 150D. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8C. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 8D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 146D. Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style             color: 145D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary             color: 145B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcongwiti’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 